Okavango Research Institute (ORI)http://hdl.handle.net/10311/20
The Okavango Research Institute was formerly known as the Harry Oppenheimer Okavango Research Centre (HOORC). On 3rd September 2010, the University Council approved the proposal to convert the HOORC to the Okavango Research Institute This is the first research institute established under the Guidelines for the Establishment and Implementation of Research Institutes and Research Centres which was approved by Senate in February 2010.Wed, 19 Dec 2018 09:35:37 GMT2018-12-19T09:35:37ZOkavango Research Institute (ORI)http://ubrisa.ub.bw:80/bitstream/id/18/http://hdl.handle.net/10311/20
Transactional sex relations among tertiary education students in the urban-village of Maun, Botswanahttp://hdl.handle.net/10311/1866
Transactional sex relations among tertiary education students in the urban-village of Maun, Botswana
Selepe, Kefemetswe; Ngwenya, Barbara Ntombi; Albers, Anna Lisa; Jankey, Odireleng M.
In southern Africa, multiple factors in given societal contexts motivate transactional sexual relations among women and men. The purpose of this study is to assess socio-economic and cultural factors that influence transactional sexual relations using a case study of students in two tertiary institutions in the urban-village of Maun in northwestern Botswana. To target information-rich cases for maximum variation, 74 (29 female and 45 male) students from two tertiary institutions (1 private and 1 government) were purposively selected. These were interviewed face-to-face using a semi-structured interview guide consisting of open-ended questions. In addition, three focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted comprising 10 students from each participating institution. Data from the interviews were thematically analyzed and interpreted. The study findings indicate that intricately interlinked factors influence engagement in, and outcomes of, transactional sexual relations among tertiary students in Maun. These include inadequate educational necessities, poor living standards/limited sources
of financial support, family upbringing/role models, parental/child neglect, family pressure regarding marriage, and personal vanity/idiosyncrasies. The study concludes that a comprehensive understanding of the multidimensional nature of the phenomena is needed in order to design appropriate interventions to address underlying drivers of transactional relations among tertiary education students.
Wed, 05 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMThttp://hdl.handle.net/10311/18662017-07-05T00:00:00ZPerceptions of safe water and accessibility by rural farming communities residing along the fringes of the Okavango Deltahttp://hdl.handle.net/10311/1865
Perceptions of safe water and accessibility by rural farming communities residing along the fringes of the Okavango Delta
Ramolefhe, Galase Tshepiso; Ngwenya, Barbara Ntombi; Ama, Njoku Ola; Nnyepi, Maria S.; Chimbari, Moses John
Globally, access to safe water for domestic use is a key social development indicator promoting health and enhancing national development. About 1 in 10 people are without access to safe water with Sub Saharan Africa facing greater challenges. Botswana, a semi-arid country, is not an exception to these challenges. Existing research has focused on water supply issues, physico-chemical properties and the effects of human activities on water quality but with little attention given to the community residents’ perceptions on accessibility of safe water. The study objective is to assess the community perceptions of safe water and accessibility amongst rural farmers of Ngamiland district. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study that uses data from socio-economic survey (SES) conducted between July and August of 2010, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) workshop reports from 2010-2012 and unobtrusive field observations by authors to assess the flood recession “molapo” farming communities’ perceptions of safe water and accessibility. A total of 161 farmers from Tubu, Xobe, and Shorobe that participated in the SES Survey are the ones being assessed in the current study. In order to investigate
factors influencing safe water access, binary logistic regression model was fitted to some socio-economic and environmental variables. Results were reported using descriptive frequencies. Almost 80% of rural farming participants’ perceived water from all sources, improved and unimproved to be safe and adequate. Perceptions of water accessibility, availability and safety changed with 2010 showing satisfaction and 2012 dissatisfaction with these aspects. There is a significantly strong relationship between source of domestic water and communities (The contingency coefficient, r =0.707, p< 0.05). Number of people in a household is a significant predictor of access to safe water (p < 0.05). People who hold the view that molapo farming has potential to cause water borne disease and that molapo farming can be potential health hazard are, respectively, 1.25 and 1.71 times more likely to access safe water than those holding contrary views. Results further reveal that those who think that drinking water directly from a stream /river can cause diarrheal diseases are less likely to access safe water (OR=0.542). Rural farmers largely perceive the water they use for domestic purposes to be safe regardless of whether source is improved or unimproved, adequate and accessible. Farmers do not seem to link drinking water directly from unimproved sources as a potential cause of diarrheal diseases. Additionally, they do not think improved sources such as taps and communal standpipes help with accessibility to safe water probably because of their frequent malfunction and dryness. Public education is encouraged to promote community awareness of contamination of all water sources whether improved and/ or non-improved.
Wed, 05 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMThttp://hdl.handle.net/10311/18652017-07-05T00:00:00ZInappropriate Use of agrochemicals poses potential threats to Botswana vultures: a call for research and legal instrumentshttp://hdl.handle.net/10311/1864
Inappropriate Use of agrochemicals poses potential threats to Botswana vultures: a call for research and legal instruments
Agrochemicals are widely used across the world to serve different purposes. However, inappropriate use of agrochemicals affects wildlife particularly non-target species such as vultures. In this paper, we discuss the potential threats posed by inappropriate use of agrochemicals to vultures in Botswana. We discuss the ecosystem services provided by vultures, recent incidents of potential vulture poising in Botswana, why vultures are vulnerable to agrochemical poisoning and status of the use of chemicals in Botswana. We show that incidents of vulture mortalities possible due to deliberate and accidental poisoning of livestock and wildlife carcasses by farmers and poachers, respectively, are increasing since 2009 in Botswana. In Botswana, the distribution of agrochemicals is not well regulated although the
Agrochemicals Act of 1999 and subsidiary 2003 legislation are in place to assist in this endeavour. In addition, factors contributing to vulture declines are not well documented and researched. The lack of information on factors contributing to vulture poisoning calls for collaborate multidisciplinary research to assess vulture population dynamics and the drivers of their population change, including poisoning to inform policies on use of agrochemicals in Botswana.
Wed, 05 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMThttp://hdl.handle.net/10311/18642017-07-05T00:00:00ZFlood risk communication within flood prone communities of the Okavango Delta, Botswanahttp://hdl.handle.net/10311/1863
Flood risk communication within flood prone communities of the Okavango Delta, Botswana
Thakadu, Olekae Tsompi; Kolawole, Oluwatoyin Dare; Sommer, Christoph; Mthombeni, Ndumiso; Ditlhakeng, Phatsimo
Floods have attracted much research attention and great improvements in forecasting them have been achieved to-date. However, the number of people affected by floods is increasing and is bound to soar as hydro-meteorological projections show that the frequency and magnitudes of floods will increase as a result of climate change. The study analyzed the factors affecting adoption of flood risk information within communities of the Okavango Delta, Botswana. The specific objectives of the study were to: 1) analyse the perception of local communities towards floods, flood risks and messages disseminated during flood risk communication; and 2) determine communities’ preferred sources and channels of communicating flood risks. Employing a 3-stage sampling procedure, the study (guided by the risk perception and trust determination models) used a sample of 95 respondents from Nxamasere village. The findings show that the respondents’ perception of flood risks and messages is high; that they have a neutral stance on message timing; and do trust the information sources. The results suggested that the community was aware of the floods and their associated risks and trusted the risk communicators, albeit concerns on message timing and exaggerated early warnings that raise false alarms. Recommendations for policy and practice on risk communication are offered.
Wed, 05 Jul 2017 00:00:00 GMThttp://hdl.handle.net/10311/18632017-07-05T00:00:00Z